Dukes Renew Rivalry with Old Dominion on Saturday

James Madison Dukes (1-0) vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (1-0)

November 13, 2021 -- 4 p.m.

Harrisonburg, Va. -- Atlantic Union Bank Center

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JMU Game Notes

JMUSports.com · @JMUMBasketball · #GoDukes

ODUSports.com · @ODU_MBB

QUICK HITS

After opening its 2021-22 in blistering fashion on Wednesday evening, James Madison will play host to one of its longest-running rivals on Saturday afternoon, welcoming in-state foe Old Dominion to the Atlantic Union Bank Center at 4 p.m.
The Dukes kicked off its season with a 135-40 victory over NAIA foe Carlow on Wednesday evening, rewriting much of the record book as six different players scored in double figures.
Junior guard Jalen Hodge led the offense on the historic night, racking up a career-high 21 points with the help of five three-pointers, while redshirt freshman Justin Amadi tallied his third career double-double with 15 points and 15 boards.
Two different Dukes were named Preseason All-CAA prior to opening the 2021-22 season, with junior guard Vado Morse taking home Second Team honors while graduate student Takal Molson was named Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA. Morse averaged 14.4 points last year, while Molson was the 2017-18 MAAC Rookie of the Year and 2018-19 First Team All-MAAC at Canisius.
Just one season after going 9-21 with a 2-16 mark in league play, the Dukes went 13-7 in their first season under Head Coach Mark Byington, including an 8-2 record against conference opponents as teams everywhere battled through the logistical complications and difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the title, Byington was named CAA Coach of the Year, NABC District 10 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award, presented annually to the top Division I mid-major coach in college basketball.

SCOUTING THE MONARCHS

Old Dominion opened its season on Wednesday evening as well, tipping off the 2021-22 campaign with a comfortable 80-60 victory over Virginia Wesleyan to start 1-0 alongside the Dukes.
Junior forward Kalu Ezikpe was named as a Preseason All-Conference USA Honoree prior to the season, after averaging 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. The Monarchs were picked to finish fifth overall in the Conference USA Preseason Poll.

SERIES HISTORY

The Monarchs are one of JMU's longest-running rivals, with the two schools having met 85 times since the 1971-72 season, the third-most meetings of any school in the Dukes' history.
ODU has controlled the series for large stretches, racking up a 58-27 lead in the all-time series, but the Dukes still hold a 19-18 edge in games played in Harrisonburg, including a 56-46 victory on Jan. 26, 2013 in the two teams' final meeting ever as members of the CAA.
The Dukes also prevailed in the two teams' most recent meeting: a thrilling 80-78 victory for JMU in Norfolk. Then-freshman Julien Wooden was the only current JMU player to play in that contest, tallying six points and six boards in the victory.

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Players Mentioned

Justin Amadi

Jalen Hodge

Takal Molson

Vado Morse

Julien Wooden

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